Method of and apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates



B. MACKLEY June 9,- 19311.

METHOD 015 AND APPARATU FOR PREPARING MATRIQES FOR STEREOT YPE PLATES Filed March 27, 1929 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES BENJAMIN MAGKLEY, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING IvIATRICES FOR STEREOTYPE PLATES Application filed March 27, 1929. :Serial No. 350,154.

This invention relates to method of and apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates. It relates more particularly to a method of treating flong to produce matrices, and is intended primarily for use in newspaper printing. The invention still further relates to an improved apparatus adapted for treating flong to produce matrices.

This invention is in part a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 24:9,- 759, filed January 26, 1928.

Stereotype plates for printing and particularly for printing newspapers are produced by casting type metal on a specially prepared matrix. The matrix is usually composed of rag or paper pulp, treated to assume the desired degree of plasticity, and which is known in the art as flong, upon which is impressed a type form.

Methods of producing matrices as here tofore known have been classified as wet or dry, depending upon the condition of the flong. In the so-called wet process the flong is made up in a plastic state by thoroughly saturating the rag or paper pulp and pressing it into the desired shape. The fiong is moist from the be inning and is kept moist until the impressions of the type forms are made in the matrices.

After the impressions have been made the matrices are covered with heavy drying blankets and are placed on drying tables where the excess moisture is driven off and the matrices are made ready for the type casting step. This method is satisfactory eX- cept that it is of little use in newspaper work on account of the time required for drying out the matrices. It is essential that the matrices to be used for newspapers be very quickly formed and be in such condition that the type metal can be almost immediately poured. A delay of four or five minutes often entails great expense in the newspaper field and for that reason the wet method is unsatisfactory.

In the dry method of producing matrices the flong is made up dry and is subsequently moistened by placing it in a saturated atmos phere. The absorbing property of the flong is made use of to take up moisture from the saturated atmosphere until the desired degree of plasticity is attained. This method is also wasting of time and very careful attention must be paid to the treatment of the flong during the process in order that it may arrive at the proper degree of plasticity. Even so, the matrices produced by the dry method have a characteristic of producing shallow impressions. The highest grade of flong must be used in the dry method and the materials for the fiong are for the most part imported, making its use very expensive.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide method of and apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates which 7 will obviate the disadvantages above noted in both of the prior methods. I employ a hotliumidifying agent, or I heat and saturate the flong at the same time, whereby themoisture penetrates the fiong much more rapidly and better results are attained. Furthermore, in the use of my method, after the type forms have been impressed on the matrices they are practically ready for the casting step and need not be dried out.

I provide in a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates the steps comprising heating and humidifying dry flong and impressing the fiong while in such heated and humidified state. I further provide apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates comprising a bed, an enclosure thereabout, and a conduit for admitting fluid into the enclosure and into contact with the bed. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent-as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one form of apparatus which is at present preferred for carrying out the invention, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through an apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates, and

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawm s, reference numeral 2 designates a frame in which are mounted at intervals rollers 3. Also journaled in the frame is an impressing roller 4 with which is positively connected a worm wheel 5 meshing with a worm 6 mounted on a shaft 7. Keyed to the shaft 7 is a sprocket wheel 8 with which cooperates a chain 9 driven by means not shown. Driving of the chain causes rotation of the shaft 7 and consequently of the worm 6, which in turn slowly rotates the worm wheel 5 and the impressing roller 4.

Also connected with the impressing roller 4 is a gear 10, the teeth of which mesh with a rack 11 formed as an integral part of a movable bed 12 mounted upon the rollers 3. lotation of the impressing roller 4 causes slow lineal movement of the bed 12 over the rollers 3 by reason of the action of the gear 10 on the rack 11. The bed 12 has a portion 13 adapted for receiving a type box 14 holding a form 15. Flong 16 is placed on top of the type form in preparation for the impressing step whereby the type is impressed into the flong to form the matrix. The impressing is performed by the roller as the bed 12 passes beneath it as above described. The size of the roller4 and the relation of the parts is such that the roller will bring a very considerable pressure to bear upon the fiong 16, thereby impressing the type into it to form the matrix.

Mounted on the frame and abutting the impressing roller 4 is a horizontal wall 17, the extremity of which is curved as shown at 18 to closely embrace the periphery of the roller. At its opposite extremity the wall is provided with hinges 19 connecting with the wall an openable closure member 20. Extending downwardly from the edges of the wall 17 and outside the type form 15 are side walls which extend downwardly to meet the table 12. The member 20 is also provided with downwardly extending side walls and a downwardly extending end wall 21, all of which are adapted to contact with the bed as it moves over. the rollers 3. The joint between the wall 17 and the member 20 is packed as shown at 22, and the joints between the respective side and end walls and the bed 12 are also packed as shown at 23.

Connected with the frame 2 are spaced uprights 24 and 25, to the latter of which are pivoted, as at 26, cross arms 27. The opposite extremities of the respective cross arms 27 are adapted to rest on the tops of the uprights 24 and to be locked in position thereon by means of locking means 28. Two of such cross arms 27 are shown in the drawings, although more may be provided if found desirable. Each. cross arm is provided with a screw 29 adapted to bear upon the respective portions of the enclosure above described, whereby to firmly maintain the enclosure against the bed while the apparatus is in 0peration. When the screws 29 are tightened to a substantial degree, the enclosure comprised of the wall 17, the member 20, and the side and end walls, together with the roller 4, is substantially fluid-tight for low pressures, and at the same time permits movement of the bed 12 with respect to the roller 4.

Leading into the enclosure is a conduit or pipe 30 controlled by a valve 31. Steam at approximately five pounds pressure above atmospheric is adapted to be admitted to the enclosure through this pipe as will be presently described.

The flong designated as 16 in the drawings is preferably completely dry and, contrary to usual practice in the dry method above referred to, may be of practically any qual ity. It is not necessary that the flonge be of the highest grade or that it be imported at great expense, as is practically necessary in the prior method. The type box having the type form 15 therein is placed on the bed 12 after the openable closure member 20 has been raised as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 1, and the dry flong as above described is laid on top of the form- Up to this time the fiong has not undergone any special treatment, so that the untreated dry flong and the type form which is to be impressed into the flong to form the matrix are initially assembled before any treatment of the flong to render it capable of receiving the impression. -The closure member 20 is swung down, the cross arms 27 fastened in place, and the screws 29 turned down to insure a fluid-tight closure surrounding the type form and the fiong resting upon it. 1 One end of the fluid-tight closure is provided by the impressing roller itself, as shown in Figure 1, so that the closure remains substantially fluid-tight even while the bed 12 is in motion. Steam under low pressure is then admitted to the enclosure by operation of the value 31 until a substantial pressure has been built up within the enclosure. This pressure need not be great and it has been found that five pounds above atmospheric is sufficient. Higher pressures may be used if desired, but the higher the pressure the more difiicult it is to maintain the seal of the enclosure.

The steam fills the enclosure and due to its inherent properties and to the pressure to which it is subjected, it immediately permeates the fiong, rendering the same plastic in a very short time. This is apparently accomplished because the flong is simultaneously subjected to the action of moisture, pressure and heat. The simultaneous action of the steam pressure and the heat of the steam apparently drives the moisture into the fiong very much more rapidly than in'the dry process formerly used, wherein neither pressure nor heat was ordinarily used.

While the flong is still being subjected to the action of the steam as above described, the

driving means for the sprocket chain 9 is set in motion, causing movement of the bed 12 beneath the impressing roller 4, whereby the now plastic flong has impressed in it the form of the type. It is found that the steam need be admitted to the enclosure for only a very short period of time before the bed is moved under the impressing roller. So rapid is the permeating effect of the steam that the treatment of the flong to render it plastic and the impression of the type therein might almost be said to be simultaneous. As a matter of fact the treatment of the fiong is being continued simultaneously with the impressing. Of course as soon as a portion of the flong passes under the impressing roller, it passes out of the atmosphere of steam and is no longer subjected to the action of the moisture, heat and pressure.

The matrix thus formed is substantially in condition to have the type metal poured into it as soon as it passes out from under the impressing roller. This is probably due to the relatively high temperature of the fiong, whatever excess moisture that may remain therein being rapidly evaporated as soon as the matrix leaves the steam zone. .Thus I practically eliminate any subsequent drying as has been necessary in the practice of the wet method above described. It may be advisable to lay the matrix on a drying table for a very short period in order to be sure that no excess moisture remains in it, but ordinarily after the process is properly carried out as described this will not be neces sary.

The advantage of my invention in the newspaper fielc is apparent and can hardly be over-estimated. It means material reduction in the time necessary for producing plates for newspapers when it is essential that the papers be printed with the least possible delay. The time wasting preparatory step of the dry process is entirely done away with and the drying step of the wet process is also eliminated. The treatment of the flong begins only a short while before the actual impression of the type is commenced, the two being in fact simultaneous throughout a portion of the process, as above described.

I prefer to introduce the heat necessary for carrying out the process as heat contained in the steam, although heat from other sources may be used either in conjunction with steam or with a spray of water.

IVhile I have shown and described a pres ent preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising simultaneously subjecting dry flong to the action of a hot humidifying agent and impresing the flong.

2. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising subjecting dry flong to the action of steam and impressing the flong.

In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising substantially enclosing dry flong, introducing steam into the enclosure and into contact with the flong, and impressing the flong.

4. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising placing together a form and dry fiong, subjecting the fiong to the action of a hot humidifying agent, and impressing the form on the iiong.

5. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising placing together and enclosing a form and dry fiong, introducing a hot humidifying agent into the enclosure and intocontact with the fiong, and impressing the form on the fiong.

6. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising subjecting dry flong to the simultaneous action of humidity, heat and pressure, and impressing the fiong as thus treated.

7. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising subjecting dry flong to the action of steam under pressure to make it suiiiciently plastic to receive the impression, and impressing the fiong.

8. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising laying dry iiong on a form, applying steam to the flong, and impressing the form on the flong.

9. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising subjecting dry flong to the action of a hot humidifying agent to make it plastic, and ret aining in the flong the state of plasticity thus attained while impressing the fiong.

10. In a method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, the steps comprising sub.- jecting dry flong to the action of a hot humidifying agent to make it plastic and impressing the flong, the resultant matrices after being impressed being substantially dry andrequiring little or no drying before the metal is cast therein.

11. Apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates, comprising impressing means, a bed movable in relation thereto, a relatively stationary but openable-enclosure abutting the impressing means and cooperating with the bed, and a conduit for admitting fluid into the enclosure and into contact with the bed.

12. Apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates, comprising a movable bed, an openable enclosure cooperating therewith, the joint between the bed and the en- (ill closure being packed, means for exerting pressure to keep the enclosure and bed firmly in Contact, and a conduit for admitting fluid into the enclosure and into contact With the bed.

13. A method of preparing matrices for stereotype plates, comprising subjecting dry fiong to the action of a heated moist atmosphere under pressure and impressing the flong While in the presence of such atmosphere.

14:. Apparatus for preparing matrices for stereotype plates, comprising a chamber for the reception of dry fiong, means for subjecting the flong While in such chamber to a heated moist atmosphere under pressure, and means associated with the chamber for impressing the fiong While in the presence of such atmosphere.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN MACKLEY. 

